Saturday’s biggest football news was the revelation that Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola has agreed to join Manchester City at the end of the season.
SEE ALSO:
Pep Guardiola agrees deal to become Manchester City manager next season
Liverpool rocked as Bayern Munich aim to trump in them in battle for Brazilian
Di Maria transfer: Bayern Munich line up shock bid for Manchester United star
The former Barcelona coach would surely have a major impact in the Premier League.
While his Bayern side look likely to miss out on the Champions League final for the second season in a row—an unavoidable failure—the team he has created have been dominant Bundesliga champions.
It’s tantalising to imagine what he could achieve at City when backed by the considerable wealth of Sheikh Mansour and Khaldoon Al Mubarak.
In this feature, we present five players who Guardiola may well be keen to bring to join him at the Etihad Stadium should he complete his switch to Eastlands this summer.
1. Thiago Alcantara
The former Barcelona prodigy hasn’t been a major success at Bayern, mainly due to injury problems, but it was telling that he was the first player Guardiola signed after moving to Bavaria.
Guardiola may have modified Barcelona’s tiki-taka at the Allianz Arena, but the addition of the 22-year-old Spain international demonstrated the value the coach places on possession and taking control of a match.
Could he complete the hat-trick and join Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium, having previously played under him at both Barca and Bayern?
2. Sergio Busquets
Earlier this year, Sergio Busquets admitted that he was growing tired of life at Barcelona and admitted envy at the pace and intensity of English football and the Premier League.
At the time, it was assumed that Chelsea would likely profit from the international’s desire to move, but with Guardiola at City, the anchor man would surely have only one choice in the Premier League.
3. David Alaba
One area of the team that the next Manchester City manager might need to look at is left-back.
Gael Clichy will be 30 by the time the next season begins, while Aleksandar Kolarov has started only 13 league matches this term and has been linked with a move back to Serie A.
David Alaba is a world class left-back, and while injury has affected his progress this term, the Austria international enjoyed arguably his best-ever campaign, under Guardiola, last term.
4. Juan Bernat
Another option at left-back would be Juan Bernat, another 22-year-old who may well be keen to continue his progress under his compatriot.
Bernat only joined Bayern from Valencia last year, but he has been the main beneficiary from Alaba’s injury, starring over 29 appearances in the Bundesliga.
5. Pedro
Barcelona forward and World Cup winner Pedro has been linked with a move to both Chelsea and Liverpool this summer as he looks to cut ties with the Nou Camp, where he is yet to establish himself as an undisputed starter.
However, surely, were Guardiola to move to the Etihad Stadium, the versatile forward would have an ideal environment within which to make his transition to English football?
Pedro could be an ideal (and viable) recruit for the incoming coach.